212 Royal Irish Academy. 



been produced elsewhere. There is, however, a circumstance which 

 attenuates in some degree this difficulty — namely, the rigid conservat- 

 ism of these retarded races, and the consequent fixity in the native- 

 art of each centre. " Patterns," as Mr. Haddon says, " have a wonder- 

 ful vitality," and hence the locality may, in general, he safely inferred 

 from the particular features of the work. This, however, is in turn 

 liable to limitation ; for certain simple patterns are found, not only in 

 the different regions of New Guinea, but in various parts of the world, 

 and the migrations of tribes may carry a form of art to a place which 

 was not its native home. A case has even been found in which a kind 

 of ornamentation previously unknown was introduced into one of the 

 Torres Straits islands by a single native of a remote place who was 

 shipwrecked on the coast. Such a fact shows that the conservatism of 

 which I have spoken is not absolute ; and the possibility of innovations 

 is increased by the improved communication between districts which 

 is now available, and by the contact of the natives with whites who 

 visit their shores. 



Examining the coast of British I^ew Guinea, Mr. Haddon finds, in 

 moving eastward along it, five successive districts, each of which appears 

 to be characterised by a particular style of ornamental design. (There 

 is a sixth district on the north-east side of the island, but scarcely any- 

 thing is known respecting it.) Let me indicate these in the most 

 general way. There is, first, the district facing Torres Straits, to which 

 the islanders of the straits give the name of Daudai. Here the pre- 

 valent feature is straight and angled lines — the fundamental pattern 

 being a zigzag between two parallel lines, which sometimes results in 

 producing triangles or diamonds, and, by the rounding of the zigzags, 

 semicircular forms. Animals are often represented, but always 

 individually, not drawTi in linear series, or grouped so as to tell a 

 story. The forms, most commonly marine, are drawn with a fair 

 amount of accuracy ; and there are sometimes little touches which 

 afford evidence of keen observation ; the zoomorphs never degenerate 

 into conventional patterns. Yegetable forms are rare. 



JS'ext follows the district about the delta of the Fly river. Here 

 we have a free treatment of curved lines and spirals ; also leaf designs ; 

 and, along with these, great skill in stone-carving. 



Thirdly, comes the district bordering on, and behind, the Papuan 

 gulf, from the delta of the Aird river to Cape Possession, marked by 



